By STEVE BRICKLER
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Second-seeded Mynderse Academy got double-digit scoring production from four of its starters and held off a late rally by top-seeded Hornell to take the 2024 Section V B1 Boys’ Basketball title, 68-59 at Blue Cross Arena on Friday night. It was the first title for the Blue Devils since 2017.
The game featured a number of runs that swung the momentum back and forth throughout the game.
“A game of runs and I was terrified they were going to make the last run,” said Mynderse Coach Pat Prayne.
“If the game was five minutes longer it could have been theirs. They’re so good. They’re tough, they’re disciplined, athletic, well-coached. We’re starting to really execute and gel and when we keep our composure, I think we can play with anybody and they believe it.”
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It was Mynderse who struck the first blow, starting the game on a 9-0 run, punctuated by an old fashioned three-point play by tournament MVP Anthony Luffman. Hornell was able to get some decent looks at the basket but was unable to convert in the early going. After a Hornell timeout, the Red Raiders were able to find their footing and kept Mynderse from extending their lead. The quarter closed with Mynderse holding a 17-10 lead.
Hornell matched Mynderse’s game opening 9-point run with a 9-0 run of their own to begin the second quarter. Senior guard Gennaro Picco opened the quarter with a triple and then junior PJ Picco followed with three straight buckets in the paint to give Hornell what turned out to be their only lead of the game at 19-17
Mynderse regained the lead in short order as Griffin Hilimire converted down low and then Luffman stole the inbounds pass and turned that into another bucket to get the Blue Devils back up by a pair. The remainder of the quarter was mostly played within one possession as each team traded baskets. The score was tied five times in the second quarter, and it looked as if the game was heading to half all even when Jake Prayne hit a mid-range jumper at the buzzer to give Mynderse a 30-28 halftime lead.
The beginning of the third quarter saw Mynderse make another move to extend its lead by going on a 17-5 run, taking their biggest lead of the game at 47-33. Junior Alan Plummer started the run with a pair of conversions underneath, followed by six straight Blue Devil points by Luffman, four from the field and two from the line. Luffman converted another pair of free throws later in the run while Jack Brady contributed a triple and Hilimire finished the run with a deuce.
Undeterred, Hornell went on an 8-0 run featuring points by all three Piccos on the roster. Sophomore Rocco Picco got the run started with a bucket followed by a free throw by Gennaro Picco. PJ Picco then converted an and one three-point play. Gennaro finished the run with a finish at the rim to pull the Red Raiders within six.
Prayne ended the third quarter and began the fourth with a pair of two-point baskets to get the Mynderse lead back to double digits, part of his team high 18 points on the night.
As they had twice earlier, Hornell clawed its way back into the game by embarking on a 10-3 run again featuring point contributions from all three Picco’s and a pair of free throws by Wyatt Evingham to pull within one possession at 54-51.
Down the stretch, Mynderse was able to answer every time the Red Raiders pulled within one possession with a big play of their own.
At 54-51, Plummer converted underneath, was fouled, and converted the free throw to get Mynderse back up by six. Evingham then hit a three to get Hornell back within three at 57-54. Hilimire answered back with a bucket in the paint for Mynderse which was immediately answered by Gennaro Picco to bring the score back to a three-point margin. Plummer answered once more to push the lead back to five and Hornell would get no closer over the last two minutes of game time.
Plummer returned to basketball this season after not playing at all last season.
“He did not play last year as a sophomore and now he’s back and he’s getting better every time he steps on the court,” said Prayne.
The last seven points of the game for Mynderse came from the line, four by Prayne, the only senior in the starting lineup and the coach’s son.
“I’ve been coaching him since he was a little kid. I’m not sure if there’s been a kid who has spent more time in a gym. I’ve been coaching for several years, and he could barely walk and dribble and he was in the gym with us. It’s truly a pleasure to win this with him. I’m just ecstatic, I don’t know what words I have left.”
Hornell was led by Gennaro Picco who finished with a game high 20 points, followed by PJ Picco with 15 and Evingham with 12. Marco Picco contributed 4 points while Quinn Mauro and Aaron McInerney added 3 apiece and Xzavier Patrick finished with 2 points. Hornell closes the season with a 19-4 record.
For Mynderse, Prayne led the way with 18 points, followed by 15 each from Luffman and Brady. Plummer added 14 and Hilimire 6 for the Blue Devils.
Mynderse (15-8), moves on to play Avon, winners of Class B2, in the Class B state qualifier on Tuesday night.
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